Seminary

Participants in the 2014 School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary did not tiptoe for three days around the “elephant in the room” – that is, the anguish felt by many over congregational disagreements in regard to same-sex relationships.
On the contrary, a highlight of the three days appeared to be a worship service ...More

Young seminary graduates typically seek pastoral positions in large suburban or urban congregations, but Brett Klingenberg craved something else. He grew up on a farm, loved farming and wanted to return to a rural congregation and farming as part of his ministry. At Eastern Mennonite Seminary, he felt restless until he found some farm work to do on the ...More

On a Sunday morning in an upstairs classroom at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, a group of people gather in a circle around a table.
Though the setup isn’t immediately indicative of a church service, that’s what makes The Table different.
The service, which started as week night get-togethers around town seven or eight years ago, ...More

Soon, a picture of the Rev. Beth Jarrett’s smiling face will be added to the collection of portraits hanging at Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren, but it will be markedly different from the others. Jarrett, who started leading the congregation tucked adjacently to Westover Park in August, is the first female head pastor of the church.
...More

Aaron M. Kauffman of Harrisonburg, Va., was chosen by Virginia Mennonite Missions’ (VMM) 15-member Board of Directors as their next president at the October 18-19 meeting.
Kauffman has extensive local and international mission experience serving most recently as VMM global ministries director and advancement associate since 2011. A seven-member sear ...More

Rachel Springer Gerber, a 2005 Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) alum, was named as the new half-time denominational minister for youth and young adults by Mennonite Church USA. She begins this assignment Jan. 6, 2014, and will work from her home in Bloomington, Ind.
In her new role, Gerber will provide resources for and facilitate connections be ...More

Enrollment increased this fall by 8 percent over the previous fall at Eastern Mennonite University, counting all students enrolled in for-credit coursework. The numbers rose from 1,519 to 1,640, a record enrollment for this 96-year-old institution.
In traditional undergraduate population, there was a 2 percent increase, from 912 to 929 students, based on head counts in early September 20 ...More

John Jacobs Jr., the only chaplain in his U.S. Army battalion, stood on a blood-soaked plywood board as he conducted a worship service for soldiers at a tiny combat outpost in the mountains of Afghanistan. Many wounded soldiers had been brought to this spot for transport back to a base hospital.
This lonely outpost was one of numerous stops for Jacobs ...More

Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) welcomes 12 new faculty members for the 2013-14 academic year.
The new faculty, announced by provost Fred Kniss, are:
Amy Gillespie, EdD, assistant professor of the practice of nursing...More